The primary duty

The primary duty is the obligation to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the safety of your transport activities.

Put simply: It’s your responsibility to do everything you can to make your transport work actions safe – this is your primary duty.

You must: manage the risks and hazards that arise from your transport activities.

This law is very similar to the obligations that your business has under work health and safety laws. You must:

identify the risks involved in your transport activities
assess those risks
eliminate those risks, or if they can’t be completely eliminated, minimise them as much as possible.

You must not: take any actions that could influence drivers and others to speed or breach the HVNL, this could include:

direct requests or terms in a contract
financial penalties or rewards
preferential treatment
any other words or actions that might cause or encourage another CoR party, or a driver, to bend the rules.

Parties in the CoR

You are a party in the CoR because of a function you perform, not your job title or job description. Learn about the 10 CoR functions.

Primary duty definitions

The primary duty is the obligation to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of your transport activities. Get a practical understanding of what these terms mean.

Primary duty scope

Every party in the CoR is responsible for safety, but what about risks and hazards you don't control? Learn about shared responsibilities and the scope of the primary duty.

Complying with your primary duty obligations

Make sure you are complying with your primary duty obligations.

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Safety, Accreditation & Compliance

The primary duty

Parties in the CoR

Primary duty definitions

Primary duty scope

Complying with your primary duty obligations